When I got the chance to spend a weekend in New York City last year, I jumped at what I considered to be a literal opportunity of a lifetime. Living in the Pacific Northwest, over three hours from a major airport, I had only visited the East Coast once. But, as a girl, I’d dreamed big dreams—fashion-designer, Broadway-star, Juilliard-graduate kinds of dreams—that resulted in me romanticizing every aspect of New York life. Throw in a grown-up obsession with Breakfast at Tiffany’s and all things #Plazacore, and New York was a dream destination.
I’d assumed it would be a one-and-done, check-off-the-bucket-list sort of trip. A fortuitous addition to an already ambitious two-week tour of the East Coast, beginning in Quebec City and ending in the cutting-edge borough of Manhattan. As such, I was prepared to spare no expense in experiencing all the city had to offer. After all, I likely wouldn’t return to NYC (at least not soon). I wanted to return home with enough memories to last a lifetime, if necessary.
Suffice to say, the city was more than…well…everything than I could have imagined, and I have my return trip (for a week, this time) booked for this month.
If you, like me, dream of taking in all that the city has to offer for the first time, let me offer you some advice—and even a suggested itinerary, based on not only my own initial itinerary but also all that I’ve researched in the year between waving farewell to the Empire State and now. Because, I’ll be honest. To the uninitiated, New York is all kinds of overwhelming. But it’s also beautiful. Scintillating. Exciting.
To have experienced the rush of Manhattan for yourself is a feeling unlike any other in the world.
This is the first in a series of posts for aspiring NYC travelers, covering what I wish I’d known before arriving in the city as well as practical advice for when to visit and where to stay. Included are links to some of my favorite places and those which I’m excited to visit, but this post is (perhaps sadly) not sponsored. If I link it, I love it!
Timing Your Trip
There’s only one time to visit NYC—Christmas. However, most people agree with my sentiment, making the city an introvert’s nightmare. But the best part about Christmas in New York is that its magic starts early and lasts late. Iconic ice skating rinks open in late October, as does the Bryant Park holiday market. The Rockettes start kicking in early November, and the Rockefeller Center tree typically stays lit until mid-January.
For that matter, autumn in New York is nearly as iconic as the holidays…and, thanks to the city’s scheduling, you can time your trip so as to experience both. My last visit, while quite chilly in mid-November, offered me a chance to see the Central Park fall foliage of my dreams and the arrival of the Rockefeller Center tree. This year, I’ll be in the city for the Bryant Park Holiday Market’s opening weekend…and I plan on squeezing in some ice skating at Rockefeller Center (sans tree) too.
Find Your Footing
Let me encourage you: please, don’t make the same mistake(s) I did. Firstly, being so afraid of the confusion that is the subway map so as to not even attempt using it. Secondly, wasting half my trip (give or take) on a start-and-stop bus tour that showed us a little bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing. Thirdly, thinking it a wise idea to hail a cab in the middle of Times Square during rush hour on a Friday when my hotel was only a handful of blocks away.
I’m not saying that I’m going to be running straight into the first subway car I see on my next trip, but I’m definitely going to consider it. (Something I’ve learned is that Google Maps offers step-by-step instructions for taking the subway, including train times and effortless walking directions to and from the stations.) And, if I’m not brave enough to unscramble the spaghetti-maze of subway lines, then I’m going to be walking most places.
The one exception I’ll make for a car is one to and from the airport—if you travel with substantial luggage (like I always do) and don’t want to brave one of the Long Island Railroad air trains, get a car. And don’t just hail a cab or schedule an Uber. Look into a private car service, which usually comes with an airport meet-and-greet and (if you’re lucky) free snacks and waters. Yes, they’re pricy, but they’re a touch of luxury after a long flight, and, when compared with today’s average taxi prices, surprisingly reasonable. Get ready to sink into luxury leather, lean back, and relax as you speed (or crawl) down the street into the City that Never Sleeps.
Expect the Unexpected
Call me naive, but “New York traffic is insane” was wholly lost on me until I actually experienced New York traffic. At peak hours, our time spent in a cab could get us barely half as far as our own two feet…rather, our own two feet if not for having to fight through an equally insane wall of pedestrian traffic. Crosswalks and stoplights? Irrelevant. Entire hordes crossed the street at will, halting traffic whenever they pleased. Of course, we’d made the unfortunate mistake (due to our preexisting travel dates) of visiting during Veteran’s Day weekend—the unofficial start to the New York holiday season—so there was likely more madness than usual.
But, for all the insanity on the streets of Midtown Manhattan, the inconceivable calm of Central Park was equally unexpected. When I pictured this New York landmark, I imagined a pretty patch of grass and pathways. A skating rink, couple of bridges, and a small lake big enough for a couple of rowboats. Not over eight hundred acres of uninterrupted, unspoiled natural beauty the likes of which I would expect to find in a national park.
These experiences—and a host of other, smaller, encounters—proved that New York is a city of contradictions. As soon as you grow comfortable (or, dare I say it, complacent) the city will show you something new and wonderful.
Stay in Style
I stayed in Midtown. Did everyone (and, by everyone, I mean the approximately one million people in a handful of online travel forums) caution me against it, warning me about prices, crowds, and a poor location. And, yes. If your goal for your time in New York is to visit multiple boroughs, see every museum and landmark, and stay in “the real” city, then you might be better off in SoHo or Brooklyn. But if, like me, you’re searching to experience the remnants of the Gilded Age and imagine for a weekend that you’re among those who reside on Billionaire’s Row, then Midtown might be the place for you.
Don’t make the mistake of staying in Times Square (in fact, I highly recommend that you avoid Times Square as if your life and sanity depend on it) but, if you’re going to splurge, splurge big. During our visit, we stayed at the Plaza. Across the street from Central Park and Bergdorf’s, kitty corner from Tiffany’s, and offering a daily breakfast credit, it was the ideal place for our first trip. It was also once-in-a-lifetime expensive. Since my return trip is another shop-till-I-drop, wine-and-dine (minus the wine) sort of experience, I knew I wanted to stay in the same location…but the prices were nearly all Plaza-level outrageous. Acceptable, perhaps, for a weekend but certainly not for a week.
Finally, I found it. What might be the most controversial hotel in all of New York City: the Trump International Hotel & Tower. For obvious reasons, this hotel has become something of a hidden gem…but it boasts five stars from Forbes, the most a hotel can glean. (The Plaza has four.) Until my trip, I can’t vouch for the quality of the hotel itself as opposed to the Plaza, but Forbes has rarely proved me wrong. (And, dare I say, the concierge at the Trump definitely has a leg up on the Plaza’s team, although both are absolutely stellar.) Regardless, rooms at the Trump Hotel are consistently less expensive—sometimes to the tune of one third of the price—than those at the Plaza. If you’re booking a luxury hotel, don’t be afraid to trust a travel agent. I booked through LuxeRally Travel and they were able to get me a daily breakfast credit, guaranteed upgrade, and more!
Your First Day
Don’t make my mistake—take it easy your first day. Especially if, like me, your experience in sizable cities is limited to places like the Las Vegas Strip or Venice, Italy. New York is massive, loud, and crowded. Give yourself time to acclimate and avoid the panic attack…like I should have. Find a few points of interest within walking distance and visit one or two, but don’t pressure yourself to walk halfway across the neighborhood. Consider eating dinner at your hotel to avoid time spent crammed in a taxi or subway car after an already-long day of train or plane travel. Last year, we had cocktails and light bites at the Palm Court, then retired early for bubble baths in the Plaza’s infamous gold-plated soaking tub. This time, our flight lands in the evening, so we have a late dinner reservation at Nougatine, the Trump Hotel’s bar, operated by the team behind chef Jean Georges’s eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant next door. If you get in early, consider a ramble down Fifth Avenue or through Central Park—snap some pictures, get used to the pace, and feel the heartbeat of the city as you prepare for the rest of your trip.
I can’t consider myself too much of a New Yorker…yet…but I hope these tips will help you as you plan your own journey to the Big Apple. And make sure to check back next week for a suggested itinerary of city activities perfect for your glamour girl weekend! Bon voyage!
